Double Talk Alert: US (NOT) Walking Like An Egyptian?

Is Egypt "contained"?  Is the US supporting Mubarak or the Egyptian people?  Are we -- the US -- at the cusp of a Saigon rooftop evacuation moment ?  Well, the financial markets today seem to be saying (again) buy "the dip" (again).  But our government seems to be preparing for the worst.

Connecticut National Guard Deploying to Egypt

Connecticut National Guard Detachment 2, Company I, 185th Aviation Regiment of Groton has mobilized and will deploy to the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, to support the Multinational Force and Observers.

The unit left Connecticut Jan. 15 for Fort Benning, Ga., for further training and validation. The unit operates C-23C Sherpa aircraft and has deployed three times in the last seven years in support of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The unit will provide an on-demand aviation asset to the Multinational Force and Observers commander to support its mission of supervising the security provisions of the Egypt/ Israel Peace Treaty.

Clinton Recalls All US Ambassadors

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is convening an unprecedented mass meeting of U.S. ambassadors.

The top envoys from nearly all of America's 260 embassies, consulates and other posts in more than 180 countries will be gathering at the State Department beginning on Monday. Officials say it's the first such global conference.

The gathering comes at a time of crisis in Egypt that could reshape dynamics in the Middle East, fallout from leaked diplomatic documents and congressional calls for sweeping cuts in foreign aid.

US Begins Airlifts from Egypt

Washington is to start flying Americans out of Egypt Monday amid growing fears for public safety, the U.S. State Department said.  The voluntary evacuations to Athens, Greece; Istanbul, Turkey; Nicosia, Cyprus; and other nearby "safe-haven" European locations will continue until all Americans wanting to leave but unable to get commercial flights are airlifted to safety, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Janice Jacobs said.

Walk Like An Egyptian by the Bangles
(From pvtpstr: How this tune failed to civilize Egypt is one of history's major question marks.)

Wikileaks' Absurdist BofA Drama

From the Department of "Waiting for Godot, " we read in today's Charlotte Observer:

In an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" broadcast Sunday night, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would neither confirm nor deny that Bank of America Corp. is the target of an upcoming "megaleak."

Assange told interviewer Steve Kroft that he wouldn't make any comment on "that upcoming publication," saying "there'll be a process of elimination if we denied some and admitted others.

After Kroft noted that it's possible the Charlotte bank might not be a target, Assange said: "I think it's great. We have all these banks squirming, thinking maybe it's them."

Ugh, this drama is endless.....Assange, your 15 minutes of fame is almost over.  Either you produce your information or shut up and move along please.  Your "megaleak" promise has become a tragicomedy.

Kuwait Hoping to Not to be the Next Egypt

If you don't think this Egypt revolt thingy is dangerous, perhaps you need to convince Kuwait's Emir.  Mideast dictators are scared sh#%less and are now offering free food and money to its citizen serfs.

I don't know if you saw this on Yahoo News earlier this week:

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Monday ordered the distribution of $4 billion and free food for 14 months to citizens as the oil-rich emirate prepares to mark national occasions.

Each of the 1.12 million native citizens will get 1,000 dinars ($3,572) in cash as well as free essential food items until March 31, 2012, the KUNA news agency cited state minister for cabinet affairs Rudhan al-Rudhan as saying.

Prepare for the commodity inflation contagion.  Yes, it will arrive here in the US even though our teevee is saying, "All is Well, Remain Calm."

Everyone Remain Calm!

All hell is about to blow in Egypt and dangerously destabilize the Mideast region, and no one has heard from or seen President Mubarak (America's favorite ME dictator) of Egypt or President Obama.    We have heard from some in the Obama administration:

Hilary Clinton appeared to urge calm and call for reforms. 

The Secretary also called on authorities to reverse what she said were unprecedented steps to cut off communications, which have included curbs on cell phone networks, the Internet and social networking sites.

Although Vice President Joe Biden, in a television interview late Thursday, said he did not think it was time for President Mubarak to step down, Clinton did not directly respond to a similar question posed to her.

WOW!  Where to begin on the US response and leadership...so absent, so unprepared....so totally flat-footed.   If the revolution reaches all the way to Saudi Arabia, it will surely blow up the price of oil and fatally wound the dollar (even more).  Then heaven help the world's commodity prices.

Until either Obama or Mubarak make an appearance, some music for your listening pleasure...

Kashmir by Led Zeppelin

UPDATE: 

Egyptian President (?) Mubarak speaking from an undisclosed location (the inside of his presidential jet?) and promises reforms and for his cabinet to resign.  Huh? Weird that he thinks that will stave off what is fast becoming a revolution.

Sputnik Moment Lost in Space

The State of the Union Speech on Tuesday was a fail. Simple as that.  No great political pairings, no super great outfits and worst of all, no great speech.  Obama's speech was pure hubris.

"Sputnik moment?"  Please!  Put it this way, not even the markets believed Obama would do much of anything in the biotech, alternative energy or infastructure space.  These sectors performed very "meh" following Obama's rhetoric.

Here's what I think -- I think what Marc Faber thinks:

Yes, very depressing.

Capitol Prom Night!

I can't wait to see the political pairings at the State of the Union tonight.

My preliminary vote for Capitol Prom King and Queen "couple" goes to:

and

I'll post on other superlative politico couples after they're revealed tonight.   And hopely what they wore!  Afterparties?

Oh yeah, and the President will speaking about something too.

Democratic Egos and Political Setbacks

Pride goeth before the fall.....

No, I'm not referring to our democratic President on the eve of the SOTU tonight.   I submit two Democratic egos and the two unintendedly hilarious setbacks that will ensue should these events actually transpire:

Liberals trying to draft Keith Olbermann for Joe Lieberman's Senate seat.  Unintended setback: Should Olbermann run, he will publicly be revealed as the greedy gasbag diva that he is.  His stirring-the-pot-for-profit schtick was so evident as he continued his "Bush Mission Accomplished" countdown TWO years into Obama's presidency.   No different that Glen Beck or Sean Hannity, just on the other side of the spectrum.

Emanuel asks Illinois Supreme Court for emergency stay - Unintended setback: Should Rahm continue his dogged pursuit of  Chicago mayoral office, he will undoubtly and quite publicly need the Illinios Supreme Court to help him rout election rules. The stench of Chicagoland politics will be revealed in the process if this electoral foodfight isn't squelched immediately.